Nanako｜Artist
A picture diary artist / A modernologist of food culture / An installation artist
Based in Kagawa/Kobe, JPN.
Theme: Time, Space and Joy.
BIO
Nanako, originally from Japan, began studying traditional dance in 1991 and later entered the Tokyo theater scene as a playwright and director. In 2003, she transitioned to burlesque performance under the name Cherry Typhoon, gaining recognition as an award-winning performer at festivals worldwide. After a heart attack during a performance in 2016, she took time to recover before returning as an MC and starting the art project “The Time-Space Installation” in Japan. In April 2024, Nanako retired from show business to focus on new artistic endeavors, including creating illustrations, essays, and installations on the themes of time, space, and joy. She currently works on a project called “Viva Food Culture,” where she illustrates her daily meals and writes about the history and personal significance of the dishes. This project serves as both a personal diary and a reflection of life in the 21st century.
Education
Waseda University – the department of literature (1995-1999)
Japanese language (Major：linguistic geography）, BA
Artist Statement
The joy of life comes from experiencing time and space, and my work aims to share these experiences. As an artist, I started in stage performance, turning virtual spaces into reality. I continue to explore new possibilities, blending reality and imagination. By expressing my fascination with self-existence from my perspective, I believe this is my ultimate mission, contributing to humanity.
Projects
Viva Food Culture! (食の絵日記）
I am working on the “Viva Food Culture” picture diary, where I watercolor the food I eat daily and write about my feelings, sometimes including the dish’s history. This project reflects my life choices through food. While it’s a personal diary, it will also serve as a record of one person’s existence in the 21st century, capturing a subjective perspective that could offer an objective glimpse into this era.
The Time-Space Installation.
(The Time-Space Installation Ugayafukiau, at Itonami Daisen Art Festival 2023.)
The Time-Space Installation is a project of my spatial installations. Drawing inspiration from myths and history, I create installations in the regions where these stories took place, using local materials and collaborating with the local people. Through this process, I aim to bridge what were once considered insurmountable barriers, such as “the past and present” or “fantasy and reality.” By focusing on these connections, I bring new life and possibilities to the narrative. Reality is shaped by choices, and through art, new stories and worlds can be created.
The Time-Space Installation Ugayafukiau
